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in si d e h a lto n .c o m O a kv ill e B ea ve r | Th ur sd ay , J an ua ry 2 5, 2 01 8 | § 5 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Passport great way to 'engage newcomers and support diversity' says Flynn • Continued from page 45 than 25 different activities hosted by 16 local arts and culture organizations. "It's more or less a cou­ pon book. People will be able to turn that coupon in and get a discount or free pass. The other thing we will be offering are prizes for people to encourage others to use the booklet," said Ward. "There is a stamp grid at the back, so the more stamps you collect, you will be closer to winning a gift." The publication came to fruition during the cre­ ation of the arts council's strategic plan in summer 2017, the end of its fiscal year, Ward noted. She used the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), which measures stability and changes in Canadians' health, and the Town of Oakville's cultural plan in her research for the guide. "There are a large num­ ber of newcomers (here). Oakville is supposed to grow quite a bit. We knew from this data that a lot of people speak languages other than En­ glish as their first," said Ward. "We looked at a lot of the different needs of our arts organizations, artists and the community, as well. That was kind of the launching point." Culture Passport Oak­ ville was funded through a $7,600 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, a con­ tribution Ward called "re­ ally critical" since the OAC is a charitable orga­ nization. "We're really depen­ dent on funding. Without it, we can't really do all the things that we would real­ ly like to do for the commu­ nity, the arts and culture organizations and artists," said Ward. Flynn told the audience the passport is going to ex­ pose a lot of people, new or longtime residents, to Oakville's arts and culture scene. "It really is, I think, one of the most perfect ways to engage newcomers and support diversity in the arts and culture sector. It provides information and encourages participa­ tion in those events," said Flynn. Burton discussed the importance ofthe passport and said it will help new­ comer families connect with Oakville's arts activi­ ties and the groups that of­ fer them. "Newcomers can face obstacles that slow down their settling in to a new community and adjusting to their new life," said Bur­ ton. "The passport will be another way that Oak­ ville's warm and friendly (residents) welcomes new­ comers to successful plac­ es in our community." The long-term plan for the passport is "twofold," Ward said, as the goal is to make newcomers aware of local events and to attract more people to OAC mem­ bers' events. As well, the arts council hopes the guide will forge new partnerships between artists and groups, and foster new ways of "seeing art or doing artistic ex­ pression." The OAC plans on cre­ ating another edition next year, possibly in a differ­ ent language. "It's a great community already. We have a lot of different art forms here. But there are always great opportunities when you have new people coming in to do new things," said Ward. For more information, visit www.oakvilleart- s.com. tilmcaMi General $8 .501 Children & Seniors $6 .501 All seats Tues $5.00 WEEK OF FRIDAY, JAN UARY26,2018 THROUGH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1,2018 OPENING THIS WEEK: THE SHAPE OF WATER, MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE THE SH APE O F WATER (14A) FRI: 11:00, 1:15,4:30,7:15,9:45 SAT-THU: 1:15,4:30,7:15,9:45 M A Z E RUNNER: DEATH CURE (14A) FRI-THU: 12:45,3:45,6:45, 9:40 THE PO ST (PG) FRI: 11:00, 1:20,4:20,6:30, 10:00 SAT, SUN: 12:00,2:10,4:20,6:30, 10:00 LAD YB IR D (14A) FRI-THU: 8:50 PAD D IN G TO N 2 (G) FRI: 1:20,4:20,6:30 SAT, SUN: 12:00,2:10,4:20,6:30 MON-THU: 1:20,4:20,6:30 JUM AN JI: W ELCOME TO THE JU N G LE (PG) FRI: 5:00,7:30, 10:00 SAT-THU: 1:00,5:00,7:30, 10:00 171 Speers Road, Oakville (at Kerr St.) 905-338-6397 (MEWS) w w w .f i lm .c a Canadian Croatian Choral Society gets a boost from OTF The Canadian Croatian Choral Society (CCCS) is expanding its programs in Halton thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The society was ho­ noured last Wednesday at a ceremony that preceded a performance at Vistamere Retirement Residence in Oakville, where MPP Kev­ in Flynn and Ontario Tril­ lium Foundation volunteer Farah Shams congratulat­ ed the group's members on its ongoing efforts. "We are very fortunate to have organizations such as the CCCS that will use this funding to enrich peo­ ple's lives through arts, culture and heritage," said Flynn. Added CCCS's founder and artistic director Ed­ ward Mavrinac: "The im­ pact of this Ontario Trilli­ um Foundation grant is significant and extensive. This grant will let us ex­ pand the performances and services that we pro­ vide to the community, es­ pecially to seniors and the youth." Expanded program­ ming will include four con­ certs for the community, five free concerts for se­ niors, two music therapy workshops, four free music workshops for young musi­ cians as well as the produc­ tion of a CD and printed material to share with the community, according to CCCS president Mira Lor- kovich Omura. For more on the CCCS, Dave O'Donnell/Photo Left: The Canadian Croatian Choral Society was recognized by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in advance of the gr oup's January 17 performance at Vistamere Retirement Residence in Oakville, where (from right) MPP Kevin Flynn and OTF volunteer Farah Shams presented a plaque to CCCS President Mira Lorkovich Omura and Artistic Director Edward J. Mavrinac; Right: The Canadian Croatian Choral Society performs at Vistamere Retirement Residence. including a list of upcom- www.canadiancroatian- ing events and tickets, visit choralsociety.com. COM E IN , APPLY, A N D START TODAY! Apply in-person at Fennell Campus or online until January 30. mohawkcollege.ca/SameDay i m o H au jK C O L L E G E http://www.oakvilleart-s.com http://www.oakvilleart-s.com http://www.film.ca http://www.canadiancroatian-ing http://www.canadiancroatian-ing Passport great way to 'engage newcomers and support diversity' says Flynn tilmcaMi 171 Speers Road, Oakville (at Kerr St.) 905-338-6397 (MEWS) COME IN, APPLY, AND START TODAY!